Khaled Abu Toameh wrote last week about this great tragedy for the palestinian people.
There was deep disappointment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Monday after Palestinian singer Amar Hassan lost in a contest for the Arab world’s best amateur singer.
Many Palestinians had been glued to their TV screens late Sunday night, eagerly awaiting the results of the “Superstar†contest on Lebanon’s Future TV.
For them, Hassan’s success was a matter of national pride and a barometer of Arab support for the Palestinian issue. The Palestinian Authority had endorsed him as an important symbol of the struggle against Israel, and a source of pride for Palestinian youth and art.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who phoned Hassan to express his support for him, was also said to be disappointed.
Awwww. Well, the Libyan guy won. A fan from Jerusalem called it "a black day for Palestinian art." He lost a whole night's sleep over it.
Some folks pegged Hassan to win because they thought he had talent. But that doesn't seem to have been the prevailing sentiment.
Many Palestinians said they expected Hassan to win the title because Arab viewers would sympathize with him simply because he’s a Palestinian from the West Bank.
“The Arab world has once again demonstrated that it does not care about the Palestinians,†commented 25-year-old Ashraf Abu Madi, a university student from Bethlehem. “Amar’s victory would have boosted Palestinian morale in the face of Israel.â€
Oh well.
